Pump tester

ABSTRACT

Methods of and devices for testing medical pumps via tracking induced single or multiple bubble trajectories within a fluid flow conduit ( 60 ) and methods of synchronized ( 600 ) corrections ( 604 ) of flow data estimates.

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/118,378, filed Nov. 26, 2008 and U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/251,418, filed Oct. 14, 2009,both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention, in its several embodiments, comprises methods of,and devices for, testing fluid pumps, and particularly pertains tomethods of, and devices for, testing medical pumps.

BACKGROUND ART

Modern medical practice utilizes a variety of fluid pumps for diverseapplications such as introducing a saline solution into patients tomaintain hydration and supplying patient controlled anesthesia. Becauseof the variety of applications for these pumps, they employ widelydifferent flow rates ranging from a fraction of a milliliter per hour toseveral liters/hour. Presently devices which measure the flow and volumeoutput of pumps do so by passing the pump fluidic output into atransparent tube and introducing bubbles into the tube. Measurements offlow and volumetric output may be derived by measuring the time requiredfor the bubbles to move past multiple fixed optical sensors. Devicesembodying such means of flow measurement are of limited utility fortimely measurements because, at low flow rates, a derived flowmeasurement may require several minutes, several hours, or may requireseveral tens of hours for the bubbles under test to move between pointsalong an array of multiple fixed optical sensors.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The invention, in its several embodiments, may include an exemplarymethod of fluid flow rate estimation of a pump comprising: (a) detectinga periodic synchronization event, via inserted bubble tracking of asignal processor unit comprising a central processing unit andaddressable memory; and (b) synchronizing, based on the periodicsynchronization event, either: (i) a flow characteristic calculation,i.e., a determination of a flow characteristic value; or (b) a flowcharacteristic data display; or (c) both. The signal processor unit mayinclude circuitry and/or a central processing unit and addressablememory. A periodic synchronization event detecting of the exemplarymethod may comprise: (a) detecting one or more pushes of a pump based ona time-interval and at least one of: a carriage position change andcarriage motion; and (b) detecting one or more pauses of a pump based ontime-interval, a threshold, and at least one of: a carriage positionchange and carriage motion. A synchronizing of a flow characteristiccalculation based on the periodic synchronization event may comprise:(a) collecting flow data through each push-pause cycle of the pump; and

(b) adding, by the signal processing unit, the collected flow data to anaverage value when a pause is detected following a push detection. Anexample of the inserted bubble tracking of the method claim maycomprise: (a) inserting a first bubble into the fluid flow; and (b)tracking, by the signal processor unit, a travel of at least one of: theleading edge of the inserted first bubble and the trailing edge of theinserted first bubble, the tracking based on photo-detector output of afirst photo-detector disposed on a controlled, translatable carriage.

The invention, in its several embodiments, may also include an exemplarypump tester comprising: (a) a light-transmissive fluid conduitcomprising an outflow path and an inflow path relative to a manifoldconfigured for bubble insertion; (b) a carriage translatably disposedalong at least one of: the outflow path of the conduit and the inflowpath of the conduit, where the carriage includes a first light emittingunit and a first photo-receptor; (c) a motor having linkage configuredto translate the carriage; and (d) a signal processing unit comprisingat least one of: (i) a circuit and (ii) a microprocessor comprising acentral processor and addressable memory; the signal processorconfigured to output motor command signals based on input signals fromthe first photo-receptor. The linkage of a pump tester may comprise abelt engaging a guide pulley and a drive pulley driven by a motor,wherein the translatable carriage is attached to the belt. The signalprocessing unit of a pump tester may be further configured, e.g., viacircuitry and/or a central processor executing instructions, to: (1)detect, via inserted bubble tracking, one or more pushes of a pump basedon a time-interval of carriage motion; (2) detect one or more pauses ofa pump based on time-interval of carriage motion less than a threshold;(3) collect flow data through each push-pause cycle of the pump; and (4)add, by a signal processing unit, the collected flow data to an averagevalue when a pause is detected following a push detection.

Embodiments of the present invention include methods of determiningand/or measuring fluid flow of a pump via a pump tester having alight-transmissive fluid conduit, where the steps may comprise: (a)inserting a first bubble into the fluid flow; and (b) tracking, by asignal processor unit, the travel of at least one of: the leading edgeof the inserted first bubble and the trailing edge of the inserted firstbubble, the tracking based on photo-detector output of a firstphoto-detector disposed on a controlled, translatable carriage. Thesignal processor unit used to practice the exemplary methods maycomprise a central processing unit and addressable memory. An exemplarymethod may further comprise inserting a second bubble into the fluidflow; and tracking, by a signal processor unit, the travel of at leastone of: the leading edge of the inserted second bubble and the trailingedge of the inserted second bubble, the tracking based on at least oneof: photo-detector output of the first photo-detector disposed and asecond photo-detector, disposed on the controlled, translatablecarriage.

Another exemplary method embodiment of the present invention maycomprise: (a) providing a translatable carriage having at least onecarriage-mounted light-emitter, the carriage disposed about a fluidconduit, the fluid conduit extending from a manifold; (b) inserting abubble into a fluid of the fluid conduit, the fluid having a flow rateand a direction of flow within the fluid conduit; (c) testing for atleast one of: a leading edge and a trailing edge of the bubble, thetesting based on a change in received light from the carriage-mountedlight-emitter; (d) if the at least one of: a leading edge and a trailingedge of the bubble, is detected, then (i) determining a first carriageposition via the carriage-mounted light-emitter, e.g., a topmostcarriage position of a vertically mounted pump tester, and (ii)advancing the carriage in the direction of flow to a carriage stoppingposition, e.g., a bottommost carriage position of a vertically mountedpump tester, (e) returning the carriage in a reverse direction of flow,i.e., in a direction from the stopping position toward the firstcarriage position; (f) testing for at least one of: a leading edge and atrailing edge of the bubble, the testing based on a change in receivedlight from the carriage-mounted light-emitter; (g) if the at least oneof: a leading edge and a trailing edge of the bubble, is detected, then(i) determining a second carriage position, and (ii) invoking a trackingmode based on a difference between the second carriage position, thefirst carriage position, and the carriage stopping position; and (h) ifthe at least one of: a leading edge and a trailing edge of the bubble,is not detected, then invoking a first tracking mode. The fluid conduitof the exemplary method may comprise a return portion configured toreturn the fluid to the manifold, and the first tracking mode maycomprise returning the carriage to the first carriage position, anddetecting at least one of: a leading edge and a trailing edge of thebubble. If the determined second carriage position is less thanone-tenth of a distance between the stopping position and the firstcarriage position, then the exemplary method may invoke a secondtracking mode, where the second tracking mode may comprise detecting aleading edge of the bubble, and slewing the carriage to maintaindetection of at least one of the leading edge of the bubble. If thedetermined second carriage position is less than one-half of a distancebetween the stopping position and the first carriage position andgreater than one-tenth of a distance between the stopping position andthe first carriage position, then the exemplary method may invoke athird tracking mode, where the third tracking mode comprises: detectinga trailing edge of the bubble; and slewing the carriage to maintaindetection of the trailing edge of the bubble. If the determined secondcarriage position is greater than one-half of a distance between thestopping position, then invoking a fourth tracking mode, where thefourth tracking mode may comprise: detecting at least one of: a leadingedge and a trailing edge of the bubble, slewing the carriage to thestopping position, and detecting at least one of: a leading edge and atrailing edge of the bubble. Another exemplary method embodiment of thepresent invention may comprise a method of measuring fluid flow by (a)inserting a first bubble into a flow of fluid of a light-transmissiveconduit, the conduit having a first portion and a second portion; (b)tracking, by a signal processor unit, the travel of the inserted firstbubble in the first portion of the conduit, the tracking based onphoto-detector output of a first photo-detector disposed on acontrolled, translatable carriage, whereby the second photo-detector maybe receiving light emitting diode emissions via the first portion of theconduit; (d) inserting a second bubble into the flow of fluid; (e)detecting the inserted second bubble, based on photo-detector output ofthe first photo-detector disposed on the controlled, translatablecarriage; (f) tracking, by the signal processor unit, the travel of theinserted second bubble, the tracking based on the photo-detector outputof the first photo-detector disposed on the controlled, translatablecarriage; (g) detecting the inserted first bubble, based onphoto-detector output of the second photo-detector disposed on thecontrolled, translatable carriage, whereby the second photo-detector maybe receiving light emitting diode emissions via the second portion ofthe conduit; and (h) tracking, by the signal processor unit, the travelof the inserted first bubble, the tracking based on the photo-detectoroutput of the second photo-detector disposed on the controlled,translatable carriage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of exampleand not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, and inwhich:

FIG. 1A depicts, in a functional arrangement, an exemplary apparatusembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B depicts, in a functional block diagram, an exemplary apparatusembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict, in a functional arrangement, features of theexemplary apparatus embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 3 is a top-level flowchart depicting a method embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 4A-4G each depict exemplary travel positions of a first inducedbubble and/or second induced bubble of a two-bubble embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5A depicts an exemplary pump cycle timeline;

FIG. 5B depicts an exemplary running average timeline of an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary top-level flowchart of an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an exemplary top-level flowchart of an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A schematic diagram of an exemplary device embodiment of the presentinvention is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Fluid from the pump to be testedenters the device (190) though the inlet port (1). The fluid may then beducted past a pressure sensor unit (2) that measures the pressure, andthe pressure sensor unit (2) may include a sensor to measure thetemperature of the fluid.

The fluid may then be ducted to the inlet port (3) of an occlusion valve(50), and may flow to the outlet port (4) of the occlusion valve (50) bydisplacing an elastomeric diaphragm (5). Deflection of the elastomericdiaphragm (5) may be opposed by pressure from a resilient foam rubberspring (6), in which pressure may be modified by adjusting a screw (7)engaging a threaded collar (51) of the occlusion valve (50). A pressuresensor may be place proximate to occlusion value and pressure sensorsmay be placed long the fluid conduit. Output, i.e., sensed pressure, maybe transmitted to the signal processor, which may be a microprocessor(15).

Fluid passing through the occlusion valve (50) may then be ducted to anoutbound and return fluid conduit assembly such as a U-shaped bubbletube (60). A bubble pump (70) having an actuator (9) may cause motion(e.g., via a mechanical connection (31)) of the bubble pump diaphragm(10), which may cause air to move through the bubble pump inlet valve(11) and then though the bubble pump outlet valve (12), and then intothe bubble tube (60).

Fluid and bubbles may travel down the first leg (8) of the bubble tube(60) of fluid conduit, around the bend (61) then up the second leg (13)of the bubble tube (60) of fluid conduit, and the fluid and bubbles maythen be ducted to the outlet port (14).

FIG. 1A shows a carriage (21) in side view. A carriage may haveapertures through which the conduit (60) may pass. FIG. 2B shows anorthogonal view of the carriage (57) where a first LED (16) may emit afirst light path (201) that may be detected at a first photo-detector(17) after passing through the first leg (8) of the conduit (60), andwhere a second LED (19) may emit a second light path (202) that may bedetected at a second photo-detector (20) after passing through thesecond leg (13) of the conduit.

The presence of a bubble in the first leg (8) of the bubble tube (60)may be detected by a signal processing unit that may comprise circuitryand/or a microprocessor (15), having a central processing unit (110) andaddressable memory (111), as seen in FIG. 1B, when there are changes inthe amount of output light of a first light-emitting device such as afirst light-emitting diode (LED) (16) that is received by a firstphoto-sensor (17) and as amplified by the amplifier circuit (18). Thepresence of a bubble in the second leg (13) of the bubble tube (60) maylikewise be detected by the microprocessor (15) by utilizing a secondlight-emitting device such as a second LED (19) and secondphoto-detector (20) to detect changes in received output light from thesecond LED (19) attributable to the presence of a bubble in the fluidstream.

The LEDs (16, 19) and photo-detectors (17, 20) may be affixed to amovable carriage (21) that may be affixed to a drive unit, e.g., a drivebelt (22), and the movable carriage (21) may be moved under the controlof the microprocessor (15) by utilizing pulleys (23 and 24) which may bedriven by a stepper motor (25). For example, the stepper motor (25) maybe under the control of the microprocessor (15) and the belt (22) maydriven by the drive pulley (24) engaged by the stepper motor (25).

As the fluid moves through the first and second legs of the bubble tubes(8, 13), bubbles may be introduced via the bubble pump (70), and themotion of the bubble may be tracked by photo-detectors on the carriage(21), a carriage that may be moved in various patterns under the controlof the microprocessor (15). This allows the microprocessor (15), byexecuting computer-readable instructions, to measure the flow rate andvolume delivered by the pump and to display that data along with thefluid temperature and pressure data on the display of a user interface(26).

The bubble tube (60) may be formed from a single glass tube that matesinto the rest of the fluid ducting or manifold via O-rings (27 and 28)in such a manner, as shown in cross-section in FIG. 1A, that the bubbletube assembly may be easily pulled free from the rest of the fluidducting (101, 102) for cleaning.

An anti-siphon valve (29) may be provided to preclude the effect ofsuction, i.e., a partial vacuum, that may be present in the tubingconnected to the outlet port (14); a suction that may otherwise causeair to be drawn though the bubble pump valves (11,12).

In typical operation, bubbles and fluid travel down the first leg (8) ofthe bubble tube (60), and the carriage (21) may track the bubble, bytranslating with the bubble, until the bubble reaches the bend (61) inthe tube. The carriage (21) may then pause in its translational motionproximate, in this example, to the bend (61) in the tube for the bubbleto round the bend (61) and to travel into the second leg (13) of thetube (60) then may track the bubble up the second leg of the tube (13).The steps of the stepper motor (25) may be made to be relatively small,e.g., smaller that the minimum possible spacing of multiple fixed photodetectors, the motion of the fluid may be tracked in fine resolution,and thereby allow for relatively precise flow and volume measurementsthat may be made rapidly, even at relatively low flow rates.

Due to the wide range of flow rates to be tested, multiple sets ofcomputer-readable instructions may be required for tracking andmeasurement of bubble motion. Exemplary sets of computer-readableinstructions are discussed below in conjunction with FIGS. 2A and 2B.

Sub-Process or Method 1: Ultra High Flow Rates

An exemplary first tracking method embodiment of the present inventionmay be embodied as an optional first sub-process, the carriage (57) maybe placed at the topmost position (51) and a bubble (54) is introducedin the first leg (8) of the bubble tube (60). The carriage (57) mayremain in position and the time interval—required for the bubble (54) totravel through the entire bubble tube (60) and be detected in the secondleg (13) of the tube—is determined via measurements. If the bent portion(61) of the tube represents an unknown volume, there may be significantloss of accuracy. This potential inaccuracy may be automaticallycalibrated out, i.e., computationally accounted for, by positioning thecarriage at a second position, P2, and measuring the total travel time.If the travel time at the top most position may be represented byTT_(top-most), the travel time at the second position may be representedby TT_(P2), and the difference in tube volume between the top mostposition and P2 may be represented by DeltaV, then it may be determinedthat the flow rate, R, is:

R=DeltaV/(TT _(top-most) −TT _(P2))  [Eq. 1]

and an estimate of the total tube volume, V_(total), may be generated,including the bent portion, at:

V _(total) R*TT _(top-most)  [Eq. 2]

V_(total) may be stored and used for further flow calculations. Thisprocess may be preferred for all flow rates in which the average flowrate cannot be accommodated by the motor's maximum speed.

Sub-Process or Method 2: Very Low Flow Rates.

An exemplary second tracking method embodiment of the present inventionmay be embodied as an optional second sub-process, the carriage (57) maybe moved initially to its topmost position (51). Once the leading edge(56) of the bubble (54) is detected, or first detected, by the optics(16, 17) on the carriage (57), bubble tracking and measurement maybegin. The carriage (57) may be moved, e.g., by the belt (22), asrequired to keep the leading edge of the bubble at or proximate thecenterline (53) of the carriage's optics, where the carriage (57) istranslated in a direction (140) away from the manifold (130). Flow rateand volume calculations may be updated each time the carriage is moved.When the carriage gets to its bottommost position (52) it may bereturned, e.g., translated in a direction (141) to its topmost positionto begin the process again. At very low flow rates, the system may trackthe bubble by tracking the leading edge (56) of the bubble (54) as itmay be many minutes or even tens of minutes between the time the leadingedge (56) of the bubble (54) first appears to the optics and the timethe trailing edge (55) first appears to the optics.

Sub-Process or Method 3: Intermediate Flow Rates

An exemplary third tracking method embodiment of the present inventionmay be embodied as an optional third sub-process, the carriage (57) mayinitially be moved toward its topmost position (51). After the leadingedge (56) of the bubble (54) is detected, or first detected, by theoptics on the carriage, the carriage may remain in position until thetrailing edge (55) of the bubble appears (FIG. 2A). Once the trailingedge (55) is detected, bubble-tracking and measurement taking may begin.The carriage may be moved in a direction (140) away from the manifold(130) as required to keep the trailing edge of the bubble (55) at thecenterline (53) of the carriage's optics. Flow rate and volumecalculations may be updated each time the carriage is moved. When thecarriage reaches its bottom most position (52) it may pause in itstranslational motion until the bubble reappears in the second leg (13)of the bubble tube (60), and it then may track the bubble (54), e.g.,according to its trailing edge (55), back up to the top most position(51) in a direction (141) toward the manifold (130) using, for example,the stepper motor (25) and belt (22) of FIG. 1A. At intermediate flowrates the system may more accurately track the trailing edge (55) of thebubble (54) because there may be micro-bubbles or foam present in thetube ahead (i.e., below on the first leg, above on the second leg, ifthe device is oriented vertically) of the bubble. These micro-bubblescollect on the leading edge of the bubble, causing it to grow andaccordingly may potentially cause overestimation of the flow rate.

Sub-Process or Method 4: High Flow Rates

An exemplary fourth method embodiment of the present invention may beembodied as an optional fourth sub-process, the carriage (57) mayinitially be moved to its topmost position (51). After the leading edge(56) of the bubble (54) is first detected by the optics on the carriage,the carriage may be moved at a relatively high speed or full speed (orslew rate) to then stop at its bottom most position (52). When theleading edge of the bubble (56) is detected at its bottommost position(52) flow rate and volume calculations may be updated based on theamount of elapsed time, e.g., the time increment required, for thebubble to travel from the top most position (51) to the bottom mostposition (52). The carriage may remain in position until the bubblereappears in the second leg of the bubble tube (13) and the process maybe repeated in that tube. When the average flow rate is over aboutone-half of the maximum flow rate that may be supported by the maximumspeed of the stepper motor, this exemplary fourth method may be apreferred method where several pumps, when placed in operation, may notproduce a steady flow, but rather may produce a flow that surges,practicably instantaneously, above and below the average value. When theinstantaneous flow rate surges above the motor's maximum speed, it maybecome impracticable for the carriage to instantaneously track thebubble; but the average rate, as represented by the top most position(51) to bottom most position (52) travel time, may still be measuredwhen the instantaneous flow rate surges above the motor's maximum speed.In practice, there may be negligible loss in accuracy when executingthis fourth exemplary method, and at these relatively high flow rates,measurements may still be produced rapidly relative to the othertracking methods, or sub-processes, disclosed.

Method of Switching Tracking Method

The various exemplary bubble tracking method embodiments, when selected,may be optimized for particular rates and for different rates. But, onemay need to select the most accurate or quickest method of measurewithout advance knowledge of the rate. The method of switching trackingmethods or optional tracking sub-processes, i.e., a method that providesfor some or all of the methods as options, and provides for automatedselection of tracking method (sub-process) is shown in the flowchart ofFIG. 3. In some embodiments, the ultra high rate method may be termedthe first tracking method, the very low rate method may be termed thesecond tracking method, the intermediate rate method may be termed thethird tracking method, and the high rate method may be termed the fourthtracking method. The method of switching tracking methods(sub-processes) may be embodied as computer-readable instructions andexecuted via the microprocessor (15) of FIGS. 1A and 1B. Referring toFIG. 1A and FIG. 3, one may position the carriage (57) at a topmostposition (51) (step 301). A bubble may be inserted into the tube via abubble pump (70) (step 302). The microprocessor, executingcomputer-readable instructions, may test for a detection of a leadingedge of the inserted bubble (step 303). The carriage (57) may then bemoved to a bottom-most position (52) at full speed (step 304). Uponachieving the bottom-most position (52), the direction of travel of thecarriage (57) may then be reversed and the microprocessor executingcomputer-readable instructions may test for a detection of the leadingedge of the inserted bubble (step 305). If the leading edge of thebubble is not detected (test 315), then the microprocessor may invokethe ultra-high flow rate processing (step 306). If the leading edge ofthe bubble is detected (test 315), then the microprocessor may determinethe bubble leading edge movement based on carriage slew (step 307). Ifthe determined leading edge is less than a first threshold (test 308),e.g., ten percent of the one-sided tube length, i.e., first leg, tubelength, then the microprocessor may execute the steps of the very lowrate method (step 309). If the determined leading edge is greater thanor equal to the first threshold (test 308) and less than a secondthreshold (test 310), e.g., 50 percent of the one-sided tube length,i.e., first leg, tube length, then the microprocessor may execute thesteps of the intermediate flow rate method (step 311). If the determinedleading edge is greater than or equal to the first threshold (test 308),and greater than or equal to the second threshold (test 310), then themicroprocessor may execute the steps of the high rate method (step 312).

Multiple Bubble Embodiments

Some embodiments of the present invention may utilize multiple bubblessimultaneously. An exemplary embodiment for determining a volumemeasurement using two bubbles is shown in FIGS. 4A-4G.

FIG. 4A shows a first bubble (80) introduced into the exemplary U-shapedtube (51) and the carriage (21) tracking the leading edge (81) of thefirst bubble (80). The leading edge tracking proceeds until the carriage(21) reaches a pre-determined location (111) as shown in FIG. 4B. Basedon an event such as achieving a particular carriage location, e.g.,drive belt travel or stepper motor increments, or based on a timedifference, e.g., a bubble pump cycle, a second bubble (90) may beintroduced to the exemplary U-shaped tube and the carriage switches totracking the trailing edge (82) of the first bubble (80), as shown inFIG. 4C. The trailing edge (82) of the first bubble (80) is trackeduntil the carriage (21) reaches its bottom-most position (112), asdepicted in FIG. 4D. From the bottom-most position, the carriage (21) ismoved to the leading edge (91) of the second bubble (90) and the secondbubble leading edge (91) is tracked as shown in FIG. 4E. The secondbubble (90) leading edge (91) tracking continues until, as depicted inFIG. 4F, the leading edge (81) of the first bubble (80), having movedinto the second leg (13) of the U-shaped tube, is detected by a secondphoto-detector (20) of the carriage (21). The leading edge (81) of thefirst bubble (80) or the leading edge (91) of the second bubble (90) maythen tracked up the second side (13) of the U-shaped tube until thecarriage (21) reaches its upper most position (113) at which point a newfirst bubble (100) is introduced and the process repeats as depicted inFIG. 4G.

Synchronized Data Averaging

Several medical pumps do not exhibit a steady, continuous flow. Rather,the flow exhibited is a periodic, pulsing flow. FIG. 5A shows thetypical behavior of such a pump, with instantaneous flow plotted vs.time. The flow pattern consists of time periods in which the pump ispushing fluid of time P, and time periods where the pump is pausing oftime C−P, in a total push+pause cycle time of C. Accordingly, FIG. 5Adepicts an example of n+2 complete pump cycles. Typically the flow ratefor such a pump is estimated as a continuously running average of theinstantaneous flow rate. Whenever the running average contains anythingother than an exactly even number of complete pump cycles it will be inerror. For example, at the end of time interval T2 in FIG. 5A, therunning average will show the correct average rate, but the end of timeinterval Ti is based on an erroneously high amount of push time and willprovide for overestimate of the rate at the end of time interval T3 theaverage is based on an erroneously high amount of pause time and willprovide for an underestimate of the rate.

If the true average rate is R, the worst case over-estimation,represented by R′, is:

R′=R*C*(n+1)/(n*C+P)  [Eq. 3]

Where the “n” of equation number 3 above is the number of completecycles in the average, C is the length of the total push pause cycle,and P is the length of the push part of the push pause cycle.

While the worst case underestimation, represented by R″, is:

R″=R*(1/(1+(C−P)/n*C))  [Eq. 4]

FIG. 5B shows a cartoon of the running average, R_(avg), oscillatingbetween R′ and R″ and slowly converging on the presumed true average, R,and doing so as the number of complete cycles in the average, “n,”increases.

In several applications, it may be desirable to measure flow rate towithin a 1% error. For several pumps, a target error of less than 1%requires an “n” value of several hundred. This large number of cyclesmay require a total test length of several minutes to several hours,which may be impractical for time-constrained testing of a pumpingdevice. Accordingly, a method embodiment of the present invention,depicted by the flowchart of FIG. 6, may provide for fluid flow rateestimation of a pump where the exemplary method comprises the steps of:(a) detecting a periodic synchronization event (600), via insertedbubble tracking of a signal processor unit comprising a centralprocessing unit and addressable memory; and (b) synchronizing a flowcharacteristic calculation based on the periodic synchronization event.The signal processor unit may comprise circuitry and/or a centralprocessing unit and addressable memory, where the central processorexecutes computer-readable instructions to execute the method. Aperiodic synchronization event (600) may be at a point or range alongthe push/pause cycle and may be tied to push/pause detection. Anexemplary flow characteristic may be the average push volume per averagetime between pushes. For example, a synchronization event may bedetected that indicates the present point or range in the push/pausecycle, e.g., the transition between the push time-region and the pausetime-region, and sensor data, e.g., carriage location or rateinformation and/or fluid pressure in the conduit, may be input to theaveraging process based on the detection of the synchronization event.In another example, the sensor data may be input in an averaging processat a sampling rate (606), but the result of the averaging process (605)may only be made available for output and/or display on the detection ofa synchronization event. In another example, the flow characteristic maybe expressed via a mathematical model representative of the average pushlength and a mathematical model representative of the average timebetween pushes, and the flow characteristic, as a pair of mathematicalmodels, may be updated on the detection of a synchronization event.

Detections of periodic synchronization events may be based on timederivatives of carriage position changes, carriage linear velocitychanges and/or may be based on changes in fluid pressure in the conduitor one or more time derivatives of fluid pressure changes in theconduit. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention may comprisethe steps of a circuit and/or a microprocessor configured to: (a) detectpushes of a pump as a time of elevated and consistent carriagemotion—reflective of bubble tracking; (b) detect pauses in the pumpingas time-intervals where there is negligible carriage motion or wherethere is carriage motion less than some percentage of that detectedduring pushes; (c) collect measured and/or determined flow data throughthe push-pause cycle; and (d) add the collected flow data to an averagevalue only when a pause is detected following a push detection. Amicroprocessor (15) of an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionmay execute computer-readable instructions for a test based on trackingleading or trailing portions of one or more induced bubbles according toan exemplary process depicted in the flowchart of FIG. 6 where the flowdata is collected (step 601), a test may indicate that the pump is in apause phase of a push-pause cycle (synchronization events 600), i.e., apause is detected (test 603) following a push detection (test 602), and,if in a pause phase, then adding flow data to the average value (step604). Embodiments of the exemplary detected pump pause-based methodproduce test-wise acceptable flow rate numbers with “n” values in therange of two to ten.

In some cases optimal results may be achieved typically by combining theabove exemplary synchronized averaging method with the multi-bubbleapplication to a flow tube. In this combined embodiment, new bubbles areintroduced and flow data are added to the average value only when apause is detected following a push detection.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart described with reference to FIGS. 4A-4G, whereFIG. 7 is an example of the steps that may be executed by a computerexecuting computer-readable instructions to track a plurality ofinserted bubbles in which a first bubble is inserted (step 701) into thefirst portion of the conduit and the first bubble is tracked (step 702),i.e., the carriage having a photo detector may be translated as thebubble moves based on received levels of carriage-based lightsemissions. Then a second bubble is inserted (step 703) into theinvention and a check is made as to the location of the first bubble(test 704). If the first bubble is lost, e.g., due to carriage travellimitations or a loss at tracking, the carriage returns to a startingpoint (step 705) and the process begins again for the next bubble. Ifthe first bubble is not lost, then a check is made as to the location ofthe second bubble (test 706) and if the second bubble is lost, then thecarriage gets moved back to the first bubble and it is tracked (step707). If the second bubble is detected (test 706), then the secondbubble is tracked in the first portion of the conduit (step 708), i.e.,along the outflow direction. A check is then made to determine if thefirst bubble is detected in the second portion of the conduit (test709), i.e., along the inflow direction. If the first bubble isdetermined to be in the second portion of the conduit, then the firstbubble is tracked in the second portion of the conduit (step 710). Ifthe first bubble is determined not to be in the second portion of theconduit (test 709), then the process returns to tracking, or continuesto track, the second bubble in the first portion of the conduit (step708). The process may be repeated for a plurality of bubbles.

It is contemplated that various combinations and/or sub-combinations ofthe specific features and aspects of the above embodiments may be madeand still fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it shouldbe understood that various features and aspects of the disclosedembodiments may be combined with or substituted for one another in orderto form varying modes of the disclosed invention. Further it is intendedthat the scope of the present invention herein disclosed by way ofexamples should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodimentsdescribed above.

1. A method of fluid flow rate estimation of a pump comprising:detecting a periodic synchronization event, via bubble tracking of asignal processor unit comprising a central processing unit andaddressable memory; and synchronizing a flow characteristicdetermination based on the periodic synchronization event.
 2. The methodof claim 1 wherein the method further comprises synchronizing a flowcharacteristic data display based on the periodic synchronization event.3. The method of claim 1 wherein the periodic synchronization eventdetecting comprises: detecting one or more pushes of a pump based on atime-interval and at least one of: a carriage position change andcarriage motion; and detecting one or more pauses of a pump based on atime-interval, a threshold, and at least one of: a carriage positionchange and carriage motion.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein thesynchronizing of a flow characteristic calculation based on the periodicsynchronization event comprises: collecting flow data through eachpush-pause cycle of the pump; and adding, by the signal processing unit,the collected flow data to an average value when a pause is detectedfollowing a push detection.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the bubbletracking comprises: tracking, by the signal processor unit, a travel ofat least one of: a leading edge of a first bubble in a fluid flow and atrailing edge of the first bubble in the fluid flow, the tracking basedon a photo-detector output of a first photo-detector disposed on acontrolled, translatable carriage.
 6. A method of fluid flow rateestimation of a pump comprising: detecting a periodic synchronizationevent, via bubble tracking of a signal processor unit comprising acentral processing unit and addressable memory; and synchronizing a flowcharacteristic data display based on the periodic synchronization event.7. The method of claim 6 wherein the method further comprisessynchronizing a flow characteristic determination based on the periodicsynchronization event.
 8. The method of claim 6 wherein the periodicsynchronization event detecting comprises: detecting one or more pushesof a pump based on a time-interval and at least one of: a carriageposition change and carriage motion; and detecting one or more pauses ofa pump based on time-interval, a threshold, and at least one of: acarriage position change and carriage motion.
 9. The method of claim 6wherein the synchronizing of a flow characteristic calculation based onthe periodic synchronization event comprises: collecting flow datathrough each push-pause cycle of the pump; and adding, by the signalprocessing unit, the collected flow data to an average value when apause is detected following a push detection.
 10. The method of claim 6wherein the bubble tracking comprises: tracking, by the signal processorunit, a travel of at least one of: a leading edge of a first bubble in afluid flow and a trailing edge of the first bubble in the fluid flow,the tracking based on a photo-detector output of a first photo-detectordisposed on a controlled, translatable carriage.
 11. A pump testercomprising: a light-transmissive fluid conduit comprising an outflowpath and an inflow path relative to a manifold; a carriage translatablydisposed along at least one of: an outflow path of the conduit and aninflow path of the conduit, the carriage comprising: a first lightemitting unit and a first photo-receptor; a motor having a linkageconfigured to translate the carriage; and a signal processing unitcomprising at least one of: (a) a circuit and (b) a microprocessorcomprising a central processor and addressable memory; the signalprocessor configured to output motor command signals based on inputsignals from the first photo-receptor.
 12. The pump tester of claim 11wherein the linkage comprises a belt engaging a guide pulley and a drivepulley driven by a motor, wherein the translatable carriage is attachedto the belt.
 13. The pump tester of claim 11 wherein the signalprocessing unit is further configured to: detect, via tracking of an atleast one bubble, one or more pushes of a pump based on a time-intervalof carriage motion; detect one or more pauses of a pump based ontime-interval of carriage motion less than a threshold; collect flowdata through each push-pause cycle of the pump; and add, by a signalprocessing unit, the collected flow data to an average value when apause is detected following a push detection.
 14. A method of measuringfluid flow within a light--transmissive conduit comprising: tracking, bya signal processor unit, the travel of at least one of: a leading edgeof a first bubble in the fluid flow and a trailing edge of the firstbubble in the fluid flow, the tracking based on photo-detector output ofa first photo-detector disposed on a controlled, translatable carriage.15. The method of claim 14 wherein the signal processor unit comprises acentral processing unit and addressable memory.
 16. The method of claim14 further comprising tracking, by a signal processor unit, the travelof at least one of: a leading edge of a second bubble in the fluid flowand a trailing edge of the second bubble in the fluid flow, the trackingbased on at least one of: a photo-detector output of the firstphoto-detector and a second photo-detector, disposed on the controlled,translatable carriage.
 17. A method comprising: providing a translatablecarriage having at least one carriage-mounted light-emitter, thecarriage disposed about a fluid conduit, the fluid conduit extendingfrom a manifold; testing for at least one of: a leading edge of a bubblein a fluid of the fluid conduit and a trailing edge of the bubble in thefluid of the fluid conduit, the testing based on a change in receivedlight from the carriage-mounted light-emitter; if the at least one of: aleading edge of the bubble in the fluid of the fluid conduit and atrailing edge of the bubble in the fluid of the fluid conduit, isdetected, then (a) determining a first carriage position via thecarriage-mounted light-emitter, and (b) advancing the carriage in thedirection of flow to a carriage stopping position, returning thecarriage in a reverse direction of flow from the stopping positiontoward the first carriage position; testing for at least one of: aleading edge of the bubble in the fluid of the fluid conduit and atrailing edge of the bubble in the fluid of the fluid conduit, thetesting based on a change in received light from the carriage-mountedlight-emitter; if the at least one of: a leading edge of the bubble inthe fluid of the fluid conduit and a trailing edge of the bubble in thefluid of the fluid conduit, is detected, then (a) determining a secondcarriage position, and (b) invoking a tracking mode based on adifference between the second carriage position, the first carriageposition, and the carriage stopping position; and if the at least oneof: a leading edge of the bubble in the fluid of the fluid conduit and atrailing edge of the bubble in the fluid of the fluid conduit, is notdetected, then invoking a first tracking mode.
 18. The method of claim17 wherein the fluid conduit comprises a return portion configured toreturn the fluid to the manifold, and wherein the first tracking modecomprises: returning the carriage to the first carriage position, anddetecting at least one of: a leading edge of the bubble in the fluid ofthe fluid conduit and a trailing edge of the bubble in the fluid of thefluid conduit.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein if the determinedsecond carriage position is less than one-tenth of a distance betweenthe stopping position and the first carriage position, then invoking asecond tracking mode.
 20. The method of claim 17 wherein the secondtracking mode comprises detecting a leading edge of the bubble in thefluid of the fluid conduit; and slewing the carriage to maintaindetection of the leading edge of the bubble in the fluid of the fluidconduit.
 21. The method of claim 17 wherein if the determined secondcarriage position is less than one-half of a distance between thestopping position and the first carriage position and greater thanone-tenth of a distance between the stopping position and the firstcarriage position, then invoking a third tracking mode.
 22. The methodof claim 21 wherein the third tracking mode comprises: detecting atrailing edge of the bubble in the fluid of the fluid conduit; andslewing the carriage to maintain detection of the trailing edge of thebubble in the fluid of the fluid conduit.
 23. The method of claim 17wherein if the determined second carriage position is greater thanone-half of a distance between the stopping position, then invoking afourth tracking mode.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the fourthtracking mode comprises: detecting at least one of: a leading edge ofthe bubble in the fluid of the fluid conduit and a trailing edge of thebubble in the fluid of the fluid conduit; slewing the carriage to thestopping position; and detecting at least one of: a leading edge and atrailing edge of the bubble.
 25. A method of measuring fluid flowcomprising: tracking, by a signal processor unit, the travel of a firstbubble in a flow of fluid of a light-transmissive conduit, the conduithaving a first portion and a second portion, in the first portion of theconduit, the tracking based on photo-detector output of a firstphoto-detector disposed on a controlled, translatable carriage, thesecond photo-detector receiving light emissions via the first portion ofthe conduit; detecting a second bubble in the flow of fluid of thelight-transmissive conduit, based on photo-detector output of the firstphoto-detector disposed on the controlled, translatable carriage;tracking, by the signal processor unit, the travel of the second bubblein the flow of fluid of the light-transmissive conduit, the trackingbased on the photo-detector output of the first photo-detector disposedon the controlled, translatable carriage; and detecting the first bubblein the flow of fluid of the light-transmissive conduit, based onphoto-detector output of the second photo-detector disposed on thecontrolled, translatable carriage, the second photo-detector receivinglight emissions via the second portion of the conduit; tracking, by thesignal processor unit, the travel of the first bubble in the flow offluid of the light-transmissive conduit, the tracking based on thephoto-detector output of the second photo-detector disposed on thecontrolled, translatable carriage.
 26. The method of claim 25 whereinthe signal processor unit comprises a central processing unit andaddressable memory.